Centrifugal separator.



D. B. WESTON.

GENTRIFUGALSEPARATOR. I

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14. 191.2.

` Pandsept. 17,1918.

DAVID B. WESTON, OF SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 17, reis.

Application led November 14, 1912. Serial No. 731,232.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID lB. WESTON, citizen of the United States, and resident of Sharon, county of Norfolk, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Separatore, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to centrifugal separators and is intended'to provide a simple and effective machine for separating from the raw liquor, such as cane juice or sludge,

YVthe heavier solid content from the lighter liquid constituent by a process that is carried on without interruption until the separated solid content accumulates suliicientlyto practically fill the operative part of the centrifugal receptacle. Instead of separating separate charges which are successively treatf ed in the machine, the liquid to be treated is supplied without interruption, and after clarification escapes out of the top of the centrifugal receptacle. Hence, a very large body of liquid in comparison with the cubical capacity of the receptacle may be treated before itis necessary to stop the operation in order to discharge the accumulated solid content. An additional object is to secure also the separation of any lighter than liquid constituent if the material to be treated contains such constituent.

To this end the invention consists generally of a centrifugal receptacle whose top and bottom members are provided with interior or central openings for the introduction and outflow of liquid while the machine is operating and for the discharge of the solid separated content through the bottom when the machine is at rest, combined with means so arranged in relation to the liquid outlet as to prevent the escape of unclarified liquid,before the solid matter has been separated therefrom. A further feature of the invention resides in the provision made for drawing olf any lighter than liquid ingredient that the material to be treated may contain.

Such a machine is especially well adapted to clearing the cane juice in sugar mills, of.

the mud and dirt, and at the saine timeof the light fibrous particles of cane which can be recovered separately from the dirt for further treatment, such as the extraction of its wax content.- p

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section showing the preferred mode of emiodying the principles of this invention; an

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrat-ing the arrangement of the radial wings and the deflecting plate.

According to the form of my invention illustrated, I employ an outside curb or easing a which surrounds the rotary basket c,

which is rotatably suspended by means of the gyratory shaft b' driven in any suitable manner.

The circumferential or outer portion of the receptacle c is subdivided into pockets or compartments by means of a series of radial wings c2 extending from the outer wall inward part way to the center. The central portion of the basket is left clear, except for the presence of the suspension shaft b. The central portion of its bottom is provided with an aperture normally closedby diskelike plate or gate c. Above this gate is mounted a frusto-conical shield d, whose lower edge is located slightly above the bottom or floor of the receptacle to leave suilicient clearance for the outflow of the liquid to be treated, into the several pockets. The shield d is open at its top so as to admit the lower end of a supply pipe g, which is supported by two hinged joints at g and at g2, in order that it may be folded up to swing clear of the machine. By means of a handle or bar al', the shield and its attached gate c can be raised to allow the solid separated material to be discharged through the bottom port.

In order to have the liquid to be treated flow as nearly as possible in a straight vertical line in its passage through the receptacle, I provide an annular defiector c5, which is arranged adjacent to the lower edge of the shield d, so as to deflect the liquid toward the periphery of the receptacle before the liquid begins to liow upward.

In the upper part of the receptacle aslight distance below its top Wall c3, I secure an annular and preferably inclined baille plate f which extends around the receptacle with its inner edge projectingl somewhat beyond the inner edge of the top wall c3, and whose outer edge terminates at a substantial distance away from the periphery of the receptacle, so as to leave a wide space or annular 1 tacle which causes ing in the top wall of the baffle plate the ba'lile plate and the top wall of the receptacle, and to conduct the clear liquid to the inner edge of the top wall over which it Iiows to the space or chamber surrounding the receptacle.

For convenience I may use a ianged deector ring o, whose depending vertical flange is located adjacent to the inner edge of the baiiie plateA f, which is mounted to leave an annular clearance space above the top wall c3 of the receptacle, in order lto guide the liquid into its chamber and prevent it from iiowing or splashing over the inner edge of the diaphragm a2. 4In many cases, however, this deflecting ring will not be needed..

The'liquid to be treated flowsI through the supply pipe g to the interior of the shield d, passes out underneath the bottom thereo toward the said wall of the receptacle 0 and partakes of the rotary motion of the recepthe -wall of liquid to build up under the action of centrifugal force along the peripheral wall of the basket. In thisposition the heavy dirt or mud content of the liquid tends to build up next the cylindrical wall, while the light fibrous material tends to float on the inner surface of the wall of liquid. Fresh liquid continues to flow in untillthe thickness of the annular wall of the liquid is sufficiently great'to allow it to begnto How over the edge of the large open- 03. At`thetime this action takes Place the light iibrous material accumulated on the inner surface of the vertical wall of liquid extends downward beneath the baiiie plate f, which acts, therefore, as a sort of skimmer to hold back the light material, while allowing the liquid to iiowover the top of the baiiie plate and out of the receptacle or basket. It will be noted that the inner'edge of the baiie plate f projects inward slightly beyond the corresponding edge of the'topwall c3, so that the liquid will be- 'n to discharge through the top of the baset before it can flow around the inner edge f. This operation continues until the deposit of solid matter next the cylindrical wall'of the basket 0 has accumulated to such athickness or depth, as to interfere with the normal operation, at

which time the supply is cut 0E and the ma chine may be stopped and the solid content discharged through the central opening in the bottom.

When', however, it is desired to keep the lighter material separate from the heavier solid material, the operator will simply reduce the speedof the machine, without stopping it, and then by opening the valves it, which control the outlet pipes h, allow the light ibrousmaterial to escape through the outlets L int'o the upper chamber formed in the curb above the diaphragm a2, and the light ibrous material is sufficiently impregnated ily th sure caused the ro with moisture to allow it to flow readrough these passages under the presby the centrifugal force due to tation of the machine.

As it is desired to open the valves h without stopping the machine7 a i may the top wall of cam-like device be supported in proper position from the curb a, which can be lowered by a screw and hand-wheel z" so as to bring the cam member z' into operative contact or engagement with the valve cocks h to throw chine them to open position while the ma- 1s running. The light fibrous content having thus been drawn oil' into the space above the diaphragm a2, the machine may be stopped in order to allow the gate 0 to be walls form in connection with the peripheral wall the means for retaining the 'solid material extracted from the liquid fed into the receptacle.

cated The bafie plate 7 being loto overlap the outlet opening, makes it impossible for unclaried liquid, from which the solid has not been extracted, to escape and also acts aroundthe inside edge of the top c3, to retain the lighterk than liquid ingredient which accumulates on the inside wall of the receptacle until beneath the bale plate, it is drawn off through the Jofl'take pipes L This arrangement permits the continuous operation of the machine until the heavier solid matter has accumulated to such an extent as may require its discharge.-v

In that case the machine is stopped, the bottom valve plate c is raised and suspended out of the way, giving the attendant an opportunity to loosen the solid material and it to fall by gravity charge opening in of operations may ing the allow through the central disthe bottom. The cycley then be resumed by startmachine and restoring the feed pipe to proper feed position after the valve has been lowered to operative position.

While the valve is useful under some conditions, it is not to be understood that it is by any means mdispensable for various kinds of work.

What I claim is:

,1. In a centrifugal lseparator the combination of the rotary centrifugal receptacle having annular top and bottom members pro- .jecting inward from its peripheral wall and providing central wings the receptacle bottom members,

openings, a series of radial arranged in the peripheral portion of between the annular. top and anannular baiile plate arranged -adjacent to the inside edge of the top member and projecting both inwardly and outwardly beyond said edge,

plate memb and a valve for closing the opening in the bottom er and removable from its sea-t in order to permit the discharge of the solid matter i through said opening, substantially as described.

2. The combination of 'the centrifugal receptacle having top and bottom annular walls leaving central openings, means for introducing the liquid to be treated into the lower peripheral portion of said receptacle, an" annular baffle plate arranged in. the upper part of said receptacle to overlap the edge of the outlet in the top, a surrounding casing comprising two draw-oil' compart-V ments, a deflecting hood arranged in the outlet opening of the lreceptacle to discharge the clarified liquid into one compartment, one or more oHtake pipes Whose inlet ends communicate with the zone below said baille plate and whose outlet ends disch-arge into the other draw-oil compartment and means for opening and closing said ofl'take pipes,

substantially as described.

I 3. A centrifugalreceptacle for a separator comprising the peripheral wall,` u per and lower memberssecured thereto an projecting' inwardly therefromso as to leave central openings, a suspenslon spider arranged in thelower opening to form a supporting.

means for the receptacle to connect it with a rotary shaft, upper and lower' annular baffle plates located within said receptacle, a deflector hood mounted on top of said receptacleand projecting inside the annular top, and a series of vertical wings or vanes arranged in the 'peripheral portion vof said receptac1esubstantially as described.

In Witness whereof, I havesubscribed the above specification.

DAV-IDB. WESTON.-

In the presencev of- V I GEO. N'. GODDARD, GEORGE A. ROCKWELL. 

